Friday, 19 June 2009 16:45
YC. Dhardhowa, editor for The Tibet Post International

Dharamshala: After infecting nearly 40,000 persons in 89 countries starting from mexico, four more persons have tested positive for swine flu in Delhi the Indian capital, taking the total number of influenza A (H1N1) cases in India to 43, health officials said. A dozen of them have already been discharged from hospitals.

With the new cases in Delhi, the number of those affected by swine flu in the city has risen to 12, but five of them have already been discharged from hospital after treatment. "The four persons who have tested positive for swine flu in the capital are in hospital and undergoing treatment," Dr Shivlal, Director of National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), said.

Meanwhile, eight persons with suspected swine flu symptoms are still in hospital as results of tests carried out on their samples are still awaited, Delhi government sources said. In the past two days alone, as many as 12 cases have tested positive. According to Health Ministry, samples of 315 persons have been tested.

"All the affected people either came from the US or touched base with the US before coming to India. They have been kept in isolation and their contacts are being identified," he said. In Bangalore, three people, including a 12-year-old boy, were tested positive for the swine flu.

"Two businessman, aged 38 and 48, who arrived in the IT city from Bangkok a couple of days back were found positive with A H1N1 virus. The 12-year-old boy had returned from Los Angeles," S Buggi, director of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bangalore, said.

Nearly 40,000 people in 89 countries have been infected with the H1N1 virus, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization, causing 167 deaths. The vast majority of those deaths -- 108 -- have occurred in Mexico, according to the agency, but India is latest country where intected by the deadly flu.